Are you ready to use cannabis but unsure how it will affect you? Is cannabis a depressant, or will it make you feel depressed? Learn more about the different effects and how you can safely use cannabis to get the desired outcome.
Table of Contents
Features
- A quick overview of why cannabis is not a depressant
- Why cannabis can provide effects similar to depressants
- How the amount of THC you consume affects you
Why You Will Love This Guide
You cannot outrightly call marijuana a depressant; the answer is a bit more complicated than that.
As members of my Well With Cannabis Community know, the plant has a varied effect on every individual’s physiology.
And because the cannabis plant contains over 100 cannabinoids and over 500 active compounds that can vary from strain to strain, each plant can produce different effects.
In this guide, we will discuss how depressants work, how cannabis can act as a depressant, and what you can do to ensure you get the experience you’re looking for.
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How Does a Depressant Work?
Cannabis can be classified as a depressant, stimulant, or hallucinogen.
However, despite its pain-relieving qualities, it is not an opiate.
Depressants are substances that cause the central nervous system to slow down.
They may slow the heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing rate.
This complex network of nerves and neurons transmits information between the brain and the rest of the body, affecting brain function.
By changing the concentration of different neurotransmitters, depressants slow down the transmission of messages from the body through the nerves.
Benzodiazepines, sleep prescriptions such as Ambien, and barbiturates, along with several dissociative and anti-seizure treatments, can all cause CNS depression.
Depressants can be administered and used correctly but are also prone to misuse, resulting in major complications and risks.
Even though cannabis has many of the same characteristics as depressants, it is not a depressant since it does not affect the concentrations of the key neurotransmitter, gamma-aminobutyric acid.
Cannabis derives its effects by engaging with parts of the brain, causing it to release dopamine, a profound sedative.
Does Marijuana Affect Your Body as a Depressant?
Regarding cannabis, the compound THC can make a person feel a depressant effect.
However, not all cannabis plants contain high amounts of THC, the compound responsible for the psychoactive effects.
Therefore, the overall effects of marijuana can differ between different strains and are not universal to the Cannabis Sativa plant itself.
Many people anecdotally claim that the strain of cannabis matters; Indica strains are more soothing, whereas Sativa strains provide more stimulant properties.
The method of administration can also alter the outcome among different people.
An individual who smokes or vapes will experience a different effect from someone who eats edibles or applies them topically to the skin.
It Depends On The Cannabinoid
When it comes to cannabis plants, they could be classified as hemp or marijuana, depending on how much THC they contain.
You can purchase and consume CBD hemp flower, which contains the benefits of cannabis, without the hallucinogenic effects.
You can also purchase and consume THC flower, which contains the benefits of cannabis and the psychoactive substance THC.
The effects of cannabis will be directly related to the cannabinoids it contains and how those chemicals work with your endocannabinoid system.
The amount of THC is also directly related to the experience.
Low doses may cause feelings of relaxation, pain relief, and more, while high doses of THC may produce the opposite effect.
Too much THC can cause different reactions and adverse effects.
Drawbacks of Too Much THC
- cognitive impairment
- poor concentration
- affects long-term memory storage
- short-term memory loss or memory problems
- hallucinogenic properties
- panic attacks
By taking your time to dose responsibly, you can find your perfect dose of THC to get the effects you are looking for without the unwanted symptoms mentioned above.
The Takeaway
Whether you use cannabis for medical purposes or recreational purposes, it’s important to know that it is not a depressant but can cause effects associated with depressants.
Different forms of cannabis can make you feel differently, depending on the concentration of the psychoactive chemical THC and a person’s perception of how it makes them feel.
The bottom line, the use of marijuana can be tailored and customized by the type and concentration of cannabinoids used.
While too much THC may cause negative effects, just the right amount of THC can help relieve chronic pain, muscle spasms, mental health conditions like anxiety disorders, and more.
Responsible cannabis use can help to improve your quality of life, reduce your need for prescription drugs, and be enjoyable for recreational use.
If you are ready to get started, one of the best places to get started is with a medical marijuana card.
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I’d just like done guidance how cannabis can ease anxiety, but not overdoing and acknowledging depression can be triggered as well..
Hi Janet. For anxiety, it’s best to use both CBD and THC. CBD helps to offset the unwanted effects of THC, makes the experience more gentle, and can help the experience be more comfortable. People often talk about CBD:THC in ratios, so if you had a 10:1 ratio, it would be 10mg of CBD to 1 mg of THC. If I were you, I would experiment with different levels of CBD and THC separately and together to see what your body responds to best. And know that ultimately, if you ever take too much THC again on accident and have that terrible skin-crawling feeling, you can take a big (50-100mg) dose of CBD, and it will make it much better and bring down that high. I hope this helps!